Australia’s late winner sinks Wales to deny Jess Fishlock a fitting farewell | OneFootball

Australia’s preparations for next year’s home Asian Cup continued with a tight 2-1 win over Wales at Cardiff City Stadium.

While Sam Kerr made her long-awaited return to the side – the striker’s first appearance for the Matildas for 725 days – it was the defender Courtney Nevin and the winger Caitlin Foord who scored for Australia. A debut goal by the teenager Mared Griffiths helped Wales bid farewell to their captain and leader, Jess Fishlock.

Making her record-breaking 166th appearance for the side, Fishlock –wearing a rainbow captain’s armband – blinked back tears as the stadium roared the anthem before the final match that brought her storied 19-year international career to a close.

Australia had control in the early stages, with the returning Katrina Gorry rocketing a shot off the bar in the fourth minute. Kerr took several minutes to get a touch of the ball, with most of the momentum coming down the left through the in-form Foord.

Unforced errors and misplaced passes allowed Wales to get a foothold in the game with Fishlock and the Liverpool winger Ceri Holland at the heart of the home side’s most convincing chances.

A penalty shout was waved away by the referee in the 17th minute after Holland tumbled after a challenge by Kaitlyn Torpey, moments after Fishlock had sliced a shot over the bar. Shortly afterwards, a mix-up between Gorry and Teagan Micah almost led to Holland poking the ball into the net.

Just as Wales were gaining confidence, Australia broke the deadlock. Nevin rifled a low free-kick into the box which missed everybody – including the lunging Kerr – to bounce into the net for the left-back’s first international goal.

Wales almost responded after the restart as a textbook slide tackle by Fishlock on Gorry sent the ball to the sprinting Hannah Cain, only for the striker to overcook her touch before tamely toe-poking it into Micah’s arms.

Both sides exchanged periods of controlled possession throughout the first half, but struggled creating chances. Hayley Raso, captaining the Matildas on her 100th cap, had several crosses blocked while Wales were regularly rebuffed by Australia’s centre-back pairing of Clare Hunt and Winonah Heatley. By half-time, both teams had just one shot on target each.

Wales levelled in the 54th minute after another unforced Australian error. A poor backpass from Nevin let in Fishlock who set up Griffiths to loop a shot over Micah’s outstretched arm.

Australia rung the changes just after the hour as Kerr, Raso, and Torpey were replaced by Amy Sayer, Holly McNamara, and Ellie Carpenter.

The Matildas almost retook the lead shortly afterwards when Kyra Cooney-Cross cut back for Foord, who found herself in acres of space near the penalty spot, only for her shot to be blocked.

Foord was not to be denied in the 85th minute as Cooney-Cross squared the ball perfectly for Arsenal winger to slam it into the roof of the net.

The exhausted Fishlock departed the field five minutes later to a standing ovation, embracing her teammates as well as her former coach Joe Montemurro on the sidelines.

Header image: [Photograph: Harry Murphy/Getty Images]